Theory of mind

• Theory of mind


  Ability to predict others' behaviour and understand people have their own way of perceiving the world
• ASD individuals


  • Reduced/delayed ability to recognise and understand internal mental state of other people
• Theory of mind emerges out of skills from early development

  1. Following others' gaze

  2. Engaging in pretend play

  3. Imitating others' behaviour
• Joint attention


  Key skill for theory of mind development
• Most children can develop theory of mind

  Bruner - 14 months
• Two foundations of theory of mind (Baron-Cohen)

  • Physical vs mental
  • Appearance and nature aren't the same
• Physical vs mental


  • Thinking about holding or actually holding something
• Appearance and nature aren't the same

  • Bath bomb that looks like cake
• Golan test


  • Short spoken phrases to test recognition of emotional cues in vocal expression
• Tests support validity of theory of mind deficits as a component of ASD
• Theory of mind deficits are less accountable for non-social features (repetitive/obsessive behaviours) of ASD
• Some adults with ASD pass Cohen/Golan test
• 'Social stories' interventions


  Short stories that highlight social cues and perspectives in everyday situations to help kids with ASD understand unwritten rules and thought and feelings of others
• Fletcher Watson test


  • Test on real-world application of theory of mind interventions
• 22 randomised control trials found theory of mind developed through intervention, but was short-lived and not generalisable to other situations
• Studies weren't blinded, so effectiveness was evaluated when they knew who had the intervention
• Need for research tests on theory of mind interventions that lack validity